The 4 Best Wood Chips of 2019 (With Pictures)

Wood chips come in many different flavors and varieties. The wood chips you use have a great impact on the flavor of your smoked food. It's important to choose the right one for maximum smoke flavor. Some smokers, like Traeger, require you to use their own pellets. With other smokers, charcoal grills, and gas grills, you can use any type of wood chip you want. Our review of wood chips is best for these types of applications.

To compare the top four brands of wood chips available on the market, we created a few categories. These categories rate each brand. Each brand was assigned a score from 1-5. 5 was the highest available score and 1 was the lowest score. The scores rated each one on Flavorness, Smoke Production, Chip Size, and Storage. Once we had the ratings together, we gave each wood chip brand an Overall Score to determine which was our recommended brand.

If you look at the table below, you can directly compare each wood chip brand by looking at their scores side-by-side. We then recommend that you read the summary review for any brand that interests you. You can click on each brand to get a full review, or to purchase the wood chips from Amazon.com.

Overall Wood Chips Review Scores

Brand

Flavorness

Smoke Production

Chip Size

Storage

Overall Score

Weber

4

5

5

5

4.5

Char-Broil

4

5

5

5

4.5

Western

5

5

5

5

5

Smokehouse

4

4

4

5

4

Weber Apple Smoker Wood Chips

These smoker wood chips are supplied in a plastic bag which contains 210 cubic inches of the product, which is just over 2.5lbs. The chips arrive kiln dried and ready to use. They can be used on gas, electric and charcoal grills and smokers. They can be used as the main fuel source as well as being added to other fuels.

Overall, these smoking wood are just that, chips of wood taken from an apple tree. You burn them and they give off smoke. You don’t get anything extra because they are branded by Weber.

Char-Broil Mesquite Smoker Chips

Most of the BBQ smoker chips in the bag I received were of a decent size, with very little dust or splinters. They were also dry and clean, with no sign or smell of rot. Mesquite isn’t to everyone’s taste, it can be quite bitter, so if this is your first time using them, don’t go throwing the whole bag on the fire. The flavor is certainly stronger than apple or other fruit chips, and obviously not as sweet.

Mesquite trees have become something of a problem in some states, driving out other species and taking over large areas. I think it’s our duty as grillers to do something to help the environment, and burn these mesquite smoker chip suckers at every opportunity.

Western BBQ Wood Chips For Smoking

The four bags of smoker wood chips I received were all good, nice and dry and not too many splinters or dust. The pack contains a good variety of flavors; the almost universally popular apple, the nearly as popular cherry, peach, which provides a good alternative, and maple, which is popular but not to everyone’s taste.

I would say this is more of a trial product, ideal if you’re just starting out and are looking for some smoking chips. At the price it is good value, even given the basic smoker tray. There are only four recipes included on the DVD, but that’s more than enough to start with. And they do walk you through the different stages. If you’ve never smoked food before and want to give it a try, this product is a good place to start without spending a lot of money.

Smokehouse Assorted Wood For Smoking

I was expecting smoker wood chips when I opened this product, instead I got what looks like pet bedding. This product isn’t designed for putting on the fire or using as fuel, but for use in a smoke box. Using it on the fire will get you a nice effect like a magic spell, but not a lot of actual smoke. Soaking it is also tricky, as you just get a bucket of mush, which will smother the fire if it isn’t burning strongly enough.

In other words, when buying wood smoking chips, you’d be better off buying the individual packs of the flavors you like, rather than this pack. I can recommend these wood chips only for those who own a smoker box.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best Wood for Smoking?

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Each variety of wood has unique characteristics. Oak pellets are very mellow, while mesquite will add sharp, spicy flavors. Alder pellets are mild and earthy, and maple pellets will add sweetness to the finished dish (making alder and maple great for fish). Hickory is a nice all-purpose pellet, but it is a little strong for fish. Pecan, apple, or cherry are great choices for chicken, pork, or beef.

How Do You Use Wood Chips on a Charcoal Grill?

Heat your charcoal as you would for a normal grilling session. Soak the wood chips in cold water for at least 30 minutes. Load the chips into a smoker box (or a pouch made from aluminum foil). If using foil, punch a few holes in the top of the foil to allow the smoke to escape. Place the smoker box or foil pouch directly on the hot grills. Replace the grill grate and grill away!

How Do You Use Wood Chips on a Gas Grill?

After soaking the wood chips in cold water for at least 30 minutes, load them into a smoker box or aluminum foil pouch (and punch a few holes in the top to allow the smoke to escape). Place the box or pouch on top of the grill grate over a hot element. Cook your food on the opposite side of the grill with the grill top closed.

Can You Use Wood Chips to Smoke Meat on a Grill?

Yes, wood chips can be used to smoke meat on a gas or charcoal grill. Indirect heat is recommended to maximize the smoke effect, as direct heat would cook the meat too quickly before it has time to absorb the smokey flavor.

Why Do You Need to Soak Wood Chips?

Wood chips should be soaked so they smoulder instead of burn. The smouldering wood produces more smoke than burning wood, which results in smokier flavored food. Chips smoked at too high of a temperature can also produce chemicals that can create off-flavors.

How Long Do You Soak Wood Chips?

Most wood chips need to soak for at least 30 minutes in cold water, although they can be soaked overnight. Check the package directions to see if your chips require a longer soaking period.

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